A comprehensive new contract to reform general practice has been agreed for the 2025/26 fiscal year, marking what Health Secretary Wes Streeting called a "breakthrough moment" for the National Health Service (NHS) and the GPs who provide primary care. This contract, reached on February 27, aims to end the infamous "8am scramble" for appointments, which has frustrated patients across England.
The new agreement is poised to bring significant change to the way GPs operate, with the government pledging to inject an extra £889 million annually to support practices and address rising costs. According to officials, this funding will cover staff wages, necessary repairs, and the growing patient numbers, as well as help shift the focus from administrative demands back to patient care.
Streeting acknowledged during interviews about the new contract's launch the immense challenges still faced within the system, saying, "There’s still going to be challenges in terms of the number of GPs and appointments available versus the number of people seeking demand." He emphasized the need for the reforms to deliver results, stating, “We want to go from strength to strength year on year.”
The reformed contract will eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic targets, enabling GPs to concentrate more on treating their patients rather than being tied down by paperwork. Streeting commented, "We’ve almost halved the number of targets and measures they’re accountable to deliver, which frees up more of their time to do what they enjoy most and patients appreciate most, which is seeing patients and treating patients." He described this change as the first step to modernizing the NHS and improving access for patients who deserve to see the same family doctor.
Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chairwoman of the BMA's GP Committee, welcomed the agreement, stating, "The green shoots of recovery will be seen when we start to see the fall in the numbers of practices being forced to close – closures which leave patients waiting far too long to see their GP." She highlighted the importance of continuous discussions to recognize the need for meaningful reform and investment for the future.
The contract reforms also mandate GP surgeries to implement online appointment booking by October 2025, which aims to reduce phone congestion during peak hours. Streeting noted, "More patients will be able to request appointments online and see their regular doctor for each appointment." This is expected to alleviate some of the frustration patients feel when faced with busy phone lines.
Previous government policies have faced heavy criticism for pushing general practice to the "brink of desperation," as Bramall-Stainer described. The reforms are intended not only to bring immediate relief but also to lay the foundation for future negotiations on GP contracts and to address the chronic underfunding of general practice.
Dr. Steve Taylor, representing the Doctors' Association UK, expressed caution about the reforms, stating, "The new GP contract goes a small way to fix some of the significant issues" but stresses the need for larger investment to secure long-term improvements. Taylor's remarks echoed concerns shared by other professionals, including Azeem Majeed, who stated, "It is good... but a lot of work still needs to be done to improve the lives of patients, GPs, and other primary care staff."
For many, the new contract symbolizes the first actual step toward rebuilding trust and cooperation between the government and GPs after years of collective actions and disputes over funding. Streeting affirmed, "Rebuilding the broken NHS starts with GPs. Patients need to be able to easily book an appointment, with their regular doctor if they choose. Today, we have taken the first step to fixing the front door to the NHS."
With the implementation of these reforms, hopes are high for transforming the patient experience within the NHS and ensuring timely access to care. Nonetheless, stakeholders remain vigilant, underscoring the importance of continuous support and incremental improvements to reach the necessary standards patients expect from their healthcare system.